Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wedding Inspiration {Pink & Yellow}
Birthday Scrapping and Trying a New Product
I had fun in my scraproom today. In addition to working on a "to be revealed later" project, I also did some scrapping of the Birthday photos. I used a new (to me) product on the scrap pages, Fabric Paper by Dear Lizzie and American Crafts. It is fabric that is backed with an ultra-thin adhesive foam. The fabric paper cuts nicely with my paper trimmer, though I did not try it on the Cricut today. Don't worry, I have more of the fabric paper and that will be my next experiment.
I purchased my fabric paper at Taylored Expressions. I used two sheets of the 12 x 12 inch fabric paper, removing the middle section with the trimmer (and saving it for later - I am thinking cute cards!). I also purchased a package of the 6 x 6 inch fabric paper and plan to use it on some cards.
I have to say that I quite like the Dear Lizzy Fabric Paper and look forward to using more. I am not sure where else you can purchase the fabric paper, but I plan to "google" it and find out if there are other patterns.
Goldmeyer Hot Springs 2 Day Hike; Dinner Menu: Sour Cream Cheese Puffs, Spicy Shrimp and Spaghetti and a Heath Bar Pound Cake
Funny how life and nature have a way of their own!A 5 mile section of the road was closed due to road wash-outs just before the hiking trail began. We did not know this since the closure was not posted. Second, if following the closed road all the way to the Goldmeyer Hot springs site, the hike would have been an additional 5 miles. Well, this is a hike and we felt the road would not be as scenic as the trail. Come to find out, again not posted, the trail was about 10 miles long (alone) and washed out by previous ragging rivers from floods in the past! What was suppose to be a leisurely 5 hour hike turned into a 8 hour hike Saturday. The weather WAS perfect for hiking and our scenery provided by nature could not have been any more gorgeous but many of us were carrying a 40 to 45 pound backpack for the first time along with conquering boulders, fallen old growth trees and slippery rivers that had washed through the path. Some of us carried hiking poles; I did not and now know better!We all stayed in good humor and worked to keep each other's focus positive and happy. Our bodies were beyond fatigued but what we saw in our surroundings was awe-inspiring and memories I will keep with me forever! Some of the downed timbers we had to either climb over, under or around were gigantic monuments to nature. Even though we were all grumbling towards the end for each new tree we had to maneuver because of aching muscles, we never lost track of the beauty we were surrounded by.
Some of our bridges were chipped out of these old, amazing trees.When we finally "did" arrive towards the end of our 1st day of hiking (amazing how we all gained our third or fourth wind at this point) we had to scale 3 logs. Where each log ended, the next one began for us to balance on while crossing a river bed.By now, it is evening. We started driving towards our hike at 6:45 in the morning, arrived at a carpool junction by 7:45, started out as a combined group in several cars and arrived at our hiking destination by 9:30 and actually started hiking by 10 a.m. When we arrived at the hot springs, we were look at around 6:15 p.m. All of us pitched together and set up camp first. Then, after checking in, made the last 1/4 mile hike up a steep hillside to get to the hot springs. Without our backpacks, we must have flew up the hill because I honestly do not remember struggling to get to our destination: Sitting in pools of hot water to soak our sorry muscles. The pools were a little smaller then I thought they were going to be but all 3 pools were etched in the rock with one pool actually in a cave setting.The pools are hard to see here but I was getting to tired to take pictures, sorry. Below is the changing area.Next to where we were soaking, there was a steep river/waterfall with huge boulders along the river path and loud, rushing water. This picture is way at the top and to the side of the river. Back at camp on Sunday, we had endured rain overnight and all our belongings were wet. Carrying everything back meant another heavy load because of being soaked. We may have done this hike a little to early in the year.We were not allowed to have a campfire and the only way to cook was by propane heat. Needless to say, Sunday, all of us were pretty cold until we started out hike home. I would also like to add that none of the group had any problem hiking the road back to our vehicles. We still had a 5 hour hike in the pouring rain with our sore muscles lugging heavy backpacks but we knew we were headed HOME! The adventure was amazing and even though we learned what endurance truly was for each of us personally, I still believe we were all happy that we made this trip.
Dinner menus are what help me stay organized in the kitchen. I try to make my menus out the week ahead but leave myself open to try something else if the mood strikes. The mood strikes quite often, which is okay because I just keep my meals in the list and make them as I get to them.
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese,softened
1 c sour cream
1/3 c finely chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 c finely chopped onion
2 tsp lemon juice
3/4 tsp dill weed
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tubes (12 oz.ea.) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/4 c minced fresh cilantro
Cut each biscuit in half horizontally;press into greased miniature muffin cups. Place rounded Tbs. of cream cheese mixture in each cup.
Bake at 375 for 14-16 mins. or till golden brown.Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve warm.
2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley (a couple of handfuls)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
Coarse salt, about 1 teaspoon
2 tablespoons (a couple of generous drizzles) extra-virgin olive oil
Aglio Olio:
1/4 cup (4 turns around the pan in a light stream) extra-virgin olive oil
1 (2-ounce) tin anchovy fillets
6 to 8 large cloves garlic, crushed and minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley, a couple of handfuls
Coarse salt
1 pound spaghetti, cooked to al dente
Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium high heat, then add half of the shrimp. Cook shrimp 3 minutes until pink and just firm. Remove shrimp to a warm platter and repeat process with remaining shrimp.
Return pan to heat and reduce heat to medium low. Add 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Add anchovies, garlic, and pepper flakes to oil. Break up anchovies with a wooden spoon until they melt away into the oil and garlic mixture.
Toss spaghetti in the pan with parsley and the garlic oil, then season with a little coarse salt, to your taste. Top servings of garlic and oil spaghetti with spicy shrimp and serve with Tomato and Onion Salad and Crusty Bread.
Cook's Notes: Prepare the shrimp while the pasta is cooking.
Prep your garlic and parsley for aglio olio and set them, as well as drained pasta and remaining ingredients all within arm's reach of your stove top.
The aroma will be intense! Cooked anchovies have a salted-nutty (rather than fishy) taste that compliments the garlic as it sweetens and softens.
Tomato and Onion Salad
1 small white skinned onion, peeled, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley (a couple of handfuls)
A generous drizzle extra-virgin olive oil, about 2 tablespoons
Coarse salt and black pepper
♥ Red Hair & FOTD ♥
trying on my Red hair wig.
it's super long & wavy. loves itttt!! the red hair is soo bright but you probably can't really see it bcaz of the bad lightings. ~~
this posts will be about my randomness. lol. ^^
I don't really think this counts as FOTD though caz I don't really wear make up in this pics. lol~~
just some eyeliners & stand out circle lenses. hehee..
webcam timee^^
now, I gotta go do my assignments & memorize my lines for the debates & study for the oral exam I will be having next week.
pls wish me a very good luck!!^^ :]
love.love ♥♥
♥ Award & I won both Giveaway from Ruby Rouge Jewelry & Chewlry Jewelry ♥
such a beautiful great day for me.
first of all I'd like to say HUGEEE thanks for all of you that have been reading my posts & actually show some love by giving comments!
it means a lot to mee^^ so thanks!
also HUGEE thanks too all of my followers. new & old one, you guys are the coolest!^^
thankss so much for sharing some love!
as for the new followers, I'm sorry if I didn't followed you back yet but I promise I'll get around to it asap.
as like, seconds after I post this blog^^
I also would like to share some good great news!!
I have been notified that I won 2 f the great great fab giveaways!!
first, is from the Ruby Rouge Jewelry Giveaway
I won this fabb 'Birdy On The Branch Necklace' piece..
pls check out her Etsy shop to see more of her fabb jewelry design! >> Link.
so this is my gift~~^^ cuteee huh?! heck yeah it is!!
here are some more of her other fab design~~
okk, so I'm definetely tagging this 10 sweet blogs~ hehee.. & anybody else who wants to take it-- pls take it!! you know you deserve it..
it's from Makeup by Kaylena.
she's soo pretty, check out her blog to see beauty tips^^ thanks for tagging me this, Kaylena!~~
it's the I ♥ Your Blog Award. I'm tagging this to anybody who think they deserve itt~~ go aheadd it's youu!! ^^
soo that's it updates for today. thanks for readingg^^
love.love ♥♥
Oooh, so pretty
Close-up
photo credits: the image is found
styling: Angel at Love and Splendor
Sneak Peek of a new Wags n' Whiskers release!!!
Nikki, Lacey, Chris, Michele, Karen, Tina, Christa, Bree, and Debbie
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Dorm Room
As much as I do love the look of a gorgeous bunk room, I have found that bunk beds really are such a pain to make. Lately I have been preferring the look of a large dorm room with rows of single beds like the picture above. I love the lidded basket placed at the end of each bed - perfect for storing each person's clothes in. I personally would be much happier making these beds instead of numerous bunk beds.
image - cote maison via aged & gilded
Dorm Room
As much as I do love the look of a gorgeous bunk room, I have found that bunk beds really are such a pain to make. Lately I have been preferring the look of a large dorm room with rows of single beds like the picture above. I love the lidded basket placed at the end of each bed - perfect for storing each person's clothes in. I personally would be much happier making these beds instead of numerous bunk beds.
image - cote maison via aged & gilded